Some
big names have yet to lock up a spot in the main event field, namely
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya.

There’s two more chances for those drivers (and others) to land a spot in the field: race their way in, or hammer the polls.

The
top-two finishers in the Sprint Showdown advance to the all-star race.
The all-star race’s table setter is scheduled for 40 laps – two segments
of 20 laps each. Finally, a driver can earn entry into the all-star
race by winning the Sprint Fan Vote. Fans can vote here:

Spotlight Shines On The Men On Pit Road

Kicking
off the festivities, the eighth edition of the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew
Challenge will take place Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at Time Warner
Cable Arena (SPEED to televise on delayed basis beginning at 8 p.m.).

This
competition between 24 of top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit crews
features the “unsung heroes” of the sport in a popular tournament-style
battle. The event’s finishing order determines pit selection for the
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The No. 11 Toyota team is the two-time
defending champion.

Johnson Aims For 1-2 Punch

Jimmie Johnson’s 16-race drought vanished on Saturday, and with it a renewed optimism within the No. 48 camp.

Can its
winning ways continue in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race?
Johnson has two wins in the all-star race (2003 and 2006), but comes
into the annual non-points extravaganza with three finishes outside the
top 10. Johnson led in all three of those starts.

After
his win, Edwards attempted to spin out in Charlotte’s large grassy
football field, but instead tore up the front of his No. 99 Ford and
left a massive divot in the infield.

It was
Edwards’ victory in the annual event. A second, this weekend, would put
Edwards in rare company. Only one driver has won consecutive NASCAR
Sprint All-Star Races, and it happened two decades ago – Davey Allison
in 1991-92.

Newbies Out To Prove There’s No First-Time Jitters

First-timers
usually don’t fare too well in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The
last driver to win in his first appearance was Ryan Newman in 2002.

Those attempting to accomplish a feat that hasn’t occurred in a decade: Paul Menard, Trevor Bayne and Marcos Ambrose.

Other drivers could join those three as first timers, depending on the results of the Sprint Showdown and the Sprint Fan Vote.